Raonic, Isner into San Jose semifinals

SAN JOSE, California (AP) -Milos Raonic and John Isner stayed on track for a meeting in the final of the SAP Open by blasting their way past their quarterfinal opponents in quick time on Friday.

Canada's Raonic, a two-time defending champion in this tournament and top seed, sent down 14 aces in his 7-6 (0), 6-3 win over Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.

His semifinal opponent will be American Sam Querrey, who outlasted Colombia's Alejandro Falla 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.

Isner made it to the San Jose final four for the first time in his career, overpowering Belgian veteran Xavier Malisse 7-6 (8), 6-2 with his booming serve.

Next for Isner is another experienced campaigner in Germany's Tommy Haas, who beat local wild-card Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-2. The four semifinal berths are filled by the tournament's top four seeds.

Isner, now the highest-ranked American, saved two break points in a lengthy first-set tiebreaker. He relied on his big-finish forehand for two breaks in the second set and never let his strong serve slip during a quick 68-minute match.

Isner finished with 10 aces and no double-faults and made 67 percent of his first serves. Perhaps most importantly for Isner, the bone bruise in his right knee that kept him out of the Australian Open is no longer slowing him down.

"If I serve well," Isner said, "I can be in the match against anybody in the world."

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